BPP to field Lenyatso in F/town West
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday May 8, 2018 16:12
Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) recently gave the constituency to the BPP, who are one of the Umbrella Democratic Change (UDC) partners.
That was after BMD exchanged constituencies with the Botswana Congress Party (BCP). The BCP gave BMD Francistown West and got Maun West from the latter. In addition, the BMD made it open that it will pass Francistown West to the BPP immediately after their transaction with the BCP has been completed.
“They are those who have proposed that I should contest in Francistown West. No decision has been taken yet with regards to who will contest in the constituency. At the moment I cannot give a comprehensive response on the matter. Wait for the official communication,” was Lenyatso’s curt response when asked if he intended to contest the next general election in Francistown West.
Mmegi also has it on good authority that some BCP council candidates are also said to have influenced Lenyatso to contest the general elections in Francistown.
Indications are that Lenyatso had wanted to contest the general elections in Tati West, but was persuaded by other members within the party to contest in Francistown West.
They reportedly perceive Lenyatso as a stronger candidate with the BPP set up. While the BPP will contest for the parliamentary seat the BCP will contest for council wards (in Francistown West).
Initially, it was widely thought that the BPP president, Motlatsi Molapisi would contest in Francistown West. He, however, indicated that he has no plans to contest the constituency in a recent interview with Mmegi.
Molapisi’s reported candidacy attracted a lot of criticism within political cycles. A majority of the people was of the view that the former Francistown mayor is past his political sell-by-date and does not have the stamina to deal with dynamics of modern day politics.